Instant Reactions – Manchester United v Stoke (15/1/18)

Following today’s clash between Manchester United and Stoke City, here are the instant reactions from both managers.

Manchester United hosted Stoke City at Old Trafford for an 8pm kick off on Monday January 15, with the hosts taking a pretty comfortable three nil victory.

The visitors created a number of good chances across the 90 minutes but either lacked composure or saw David de Gea make good saves, however United had better luck with Antonio Valencia opening the scoring after only nine minutes had been played. Anthony Martial doubled their advantage before the half time break before Romelu Lukaku added a third with under 20 minutes left to play.

New Stoke manager Paul Lambert was in the stands to take a watching brief.

Speaking to the BBC’s cameras a short time after match day referee Anthony Taylor blew the final whistle, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho explained.

‘Stoke bought players to play football, they were not afraid to play and they created us problems in the first half. I didn’t watch Liverpool beat Manchester City, it doesn’t change anything. The distance is an important distance, I have been there before. They have their destiny in their hands.’

He went on to say about Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez.

‘No news on Alexis Sanchez, he is an Arsenal player, if he stays it’s great for Arsenal, if he comes to us, great for us, if he goes to another club, great for them.’

Adding.

‘I’ve no idea. Today I was completely separate from all of that – I was just focused on my match and not worried about anything else. I’m not going to speak about hypothetical situations. Probably there are other clubs also interested and trying and I shouldn’t talk about a player who is an Arsenal player.’

‘I was proud of them. I thought we started really well. But they’re clinical and so much quality. We worked to a plan and for the first goal we didn’t do that plan. You have to be clinical at this level and when you play the top teams yo have to take those chances. I thought we showed really good signs for the new manager – I thought Moritz Bauer was outstanding. I thought the guys in midfield worked their socks off. Paul Lambert told me before the game he wasn’t going to get involved and he paid me that respect. He came in at the end of the game. I said my piece. It’s a big challenge staying in he Premier League. We’re still in the pack and now’s the time for everyone to get behind their new manager.’

Adding.

‘You need to be clinical at places like this and we had our chances and didn’t take them. We have not been able to start a consistent back four or five all season, organisation is massive in this game. The goals were special today that beat us, we need a foundation. Paul Lambert said a few words to the players in the hotel before the game but he showed me the respect, it was my team today. I enjoyed the experience but it has been incredibly difficult personally. I will find out my future in the next 48 hours, I know how the game works.’